January 5, 2014 · 11:16 am

Johnny come lately, the new kid in town…

PSU Beatles

“Everybody’s talking
There’s a new kid in town
People started walking
There’s a new kid in town” – Eagles

With the approach of the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles coming to the United States, it seems that new events, festivals and conferences are popping up everywhere to celebrate the occasion.  And though the Fest for Beatles Fans is the biggest fest around, some of the others aren’t to shabby!

One of the biggest events will be at Penn State University in Altoona, PA on the weekend of February 7-9, 2014 and is called ‘It was 50 Years Ago Today: An International Beatles Celebration.’  This three day event isn’t a festival.  It’s a conference.  According to their website, “In addition to panels and presentations, the conference will include film screenings, musical performances, art and photography exhibits, and keynote addresses by leading Beatles critics and musicologists.”

The director of this event is Dr. Kenneth Womack, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at PSU Altoona, and the author of: Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles, The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles, Reading the Beatles: Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, And the Fab Four and the soon to be released The Beatles Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: Everything Fab Four.

A few of the respected 50+ experts set to appear at this conference are:

Mark Lewisohn – regarded as  one of the world’s leading Beatles authorities, Mark is the author of the NY Times bestseller Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years, Volume 1.

Andy Babiuk – the foremost authority on the equipment used to create the Beatles’ music and the author of Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four’s Instruments from Stage to Studio.  Andy is also a staff consultant to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH.

Walter Everett – the author of the Beatles As Musicians book series, Mr. Everett is also a member of the School of Music faculty at the University of Michigan and the author of The Foundations of Rock.

Jude Southerland Kessler – a Beatles expert, author and host of her own radio show, Ms. Kessler is the author of the John Lennon Series.  She has spent nearly 30 years researching John Lennon and the Beatles for her 9 book series., making her a leading expert on the topic of the Fab Four.

Dr. Kit O’Toole – For over 19 years, Dr. O’Toole has written music, concert, and book reviews, interviews, popular culture essays, and technology “how to” articles.  Her work has appeared at: Blogcritics.org, Something Else Reviews, Blinded by Sound, Cinema Sentries, Seattle PI and Beatlefan magazine.

This is definitely set to be one of the most intellectual of all the Beatles events to be held in 2014!  And what’s cool about their registration is that you not only can you sign up for which days you would like to attend, you can add your meals and accommodations to your package as you like!

For more information on this conference, along with a schedule of events & presenters, and registration, check out their website: http://www.altoona.psu.edu/beatles.

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September 30, 2013 · 12:18 pm

Album Review: “Four” by Andrea Perry

a1915268809_2 Damn!  I got suckered by another musician telling me how “Beatle-y” their songs are and that I should listen to their album.  This time, the request came from a musician/producer in Austin, TX named Andrea Perry and her album “Four“.

Hi, I’m a Beatles freak with a new album with several very Beatles influenced songs. I’d love if you’d check it out. <snip> Tracks 4, 5, 13 and 14 are the most Beatle-y. Track 1 maybe too.

Okay Andrea, I’ll be the judge of that!

There is no doubt that there is a ‘Beatle-y’ sound to many of the songs on this album…some listed in Andre’s note to me and some are not.  But, I wonder how many musicians realize that going around proclaiming their music is heavily influenced by the greatest band in the world opens them up to having the entire album put under the microscope by none other than the very neurotic, anally retentive, OCD Beatles fans?  And do you really want to open yourself up to that?  I guess so…

The violins and cellos on the first song ‘My Lover Said’ are what trigger the Beatles-effect right from the get go and this song sets the tone for the album and I think it’s a more Beatles-esques song than – ‘Back Before There Was You’ or ‘While Spinning’.

Now, how does this album stand on its own away from it’s Fab Four fan influence?  Not bad…but there was a song or two where I would have liked to have heard more layered vocals or harmonies because the lyrics seemed to become background noise to the instrumentals.  And though Andrea says that track 5 – ‘While Spinning’ is Beatle-y, it sounds a lot like track 6 – ‘Where Have You Been’. There was also a part of me waiting for this album to climax and I didn’t feel like it quite did that until about track 13 -‘Welcome Home’.

But don’t take my word for it, head over to Andrea Perry‘s website and listen to it for free.  If you like what you hear, the album is only $7 to download!

I’m not going to rate this album because I just don’t think it would be fair.  Yes…heavy Beatles influence.  Yes…the album can stand alone, but has it’s issues.  How would you rate it?

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September 18, 2013 · 11:03 am

Book Review: ‘Rubber Soul’ by Greg Kihn

rubber-soul-cover-final-hartter-200x300Well boys and girls, it’s time once again for a couple disclaimers before I break into my review of this book:

1. This was the first full length book that I read entirely on a Kindle.  I like real books with paper pages and page numbers, so this alone was a challenge when all the Kindle would tell me was a percentage of what I had already read.  Is this going to be a factor in my review?  I dunno!

2. I’ve said it before…I don’t like fan fiction.  BUT…I had to catch myself because I realized that I do read fan fiction about Edgar Alan Poe.  In fact, I’m kinda obsessed with it!  So let me correct myself, I don’t like Beatles fan fiction.  I like my Fab Four the way I like my soap and men…99 44/100% pure!

On to the review:

Rubber Soul is the latest in a series of novels by Greg Kihn.  Yeah…THAT Greg Kihn…the man behind ‘The Breakup Song’ and ‘Jeopardy’.  Apparently, he’s been keeping himself busy these past several years with a radio show and authoring books.  Who’d a thunk it?  This latest installment is a murder mystery featuring …you guessed it…The Beatles!

I must say that I love Greg’s writing style!  What an easy and peaceful read this book was even as I struggled to get used to reading it on my Kindle (or KIHNdle).  No flashbacks and not overloaded with too many characters.  But I will admit, I almost didn’t make it past the 2nd or 3rd chapter when the main character becomes, what I consider, a little too involved with The Beatles.  I understand that Mr. Kihn stayed true to the Beatles story during their early years, but there was a moment where I felt he crossed the line a bit with mixing his fiction with his fact.

*Note: I have it from a good source that Greg Kihn had never heard of ‘fan fiction’ up until 2 months ago even though he’s been writing it for years.  Go figure…

I finally picked the book back up after a couple days of questioning why I had decided to read another Beatles fan fiction book (because he’s Greg ‘fu-kihn’ KIHN…that’s why!), I marched on through the digital pages and can say that it became a much better read with the Beatles taking a back seat to the main character up until the end when the plot thickens and draws our boys back into the story.  At this point, I could no longer put the book down until finding out ‘Who done it?’

I must say, Greg did his homework on the Beatles for this book.  I do believe there is one obvious error when he writes that Stu and Astrid were married…they never got that far before Stu passed away.

I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles

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August 29, 2013 · 9:31 am

New festival for Fab Four fans: Beatles At The Ridge

Beatles At The Ridge, Walnut Ridge, AR: Sept 20-21It’s been way too long since I’ve posted a review or opinion on this blog, but when I heard about Beatles At The Ridge, I knew I just had to spread the good word!

Beatles At The Ridge is a two day festival in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas created by Charles Snapp in 2011.  It is now in its third year running.  Last year, the crowd size was estimated at over 10,000, but I have a feeling that this fest is going to put the best of all Beatles festivals on guard!  This fest has the potential to become a new mecca for the most diehard fans.

So what connection does Walnut Ridge have to the Beatles?  I’m glad you asked…because Walnut Ridge can boast about their Beatles encounter.  From their website: “A quiet night in 1964 was interrupted by the unusual sound of an airliner approaching Walnut Ridge Airport. Its arrival sparked enough interest that three local teens went to investigate, only to discover John, Paul, Ringo, and George walking from the plane. The Beatles, the biggest rock band in the world, had arrived at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.”  You can read the rest of the story and see pictures here.

This year’s fest will have over 100 vendors (the number is still growing as word gets out about BATR).  Admission is free, parking is free and all entertainment is free.  I don’t think I’ve heard of another Beatles festival that can say that (but I could be wrong).

The entertainment for this two day, three stage event is also growing by the day.  Scheduled to appear this year are: Stan Perkins (son of Carl Perkins), Beatles tribute band – BritBeat, Ringo Starr tribute artist – Ringer Star,  Beatles expert & author – Jude Southerland Kessler, Danny Donuts Yellow Submarine Parade and many more!  There will also be a Beatles costume contest with prizes!  A full list of events can be found here.

In 2012, Beatles at the Ridge won the “Top new Festival” award from the Arkansas Festival and Events Association.

 Beatles At The Ridge will run from Friday, September 20th thru Saturday, September 21st.  For more information, go to: www.BeatlesAtTheRidge.com. 
I have a feeling this party is truly going to rock and it’s going to put a scare into the owner of many a Beatles fest.  If you go, please check in here and let us know your opinion!

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April 3, 2013 · 4:47 pm

Another great song and video from The Vals

This band still remains one of my favorite current bands and I’m just waiting for them to come to the United States. You can hear the Beatles influence. For more music, news and tour dates please visit http://www.thevals.co.uk

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Link

Stumbled upon this in the Wall Street Journal this morning and thought you would all like to read the review of tonight’s airing on PBS of Magical Mystery Tour Revisited:

WSJ Review: Magical Mystery Tour Revisited

Have a happy holiday, Beatles Freaks!

Best,

Jenn

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December 14, 2012 · 8:38 am
December 1, 2012 · 12:54 pm

A GREAT gift that keeps giving from the White Feather Foundation

White Feather Foundation t-shirtI love this t-shirt!  My husband gave it to me several years ago as a christmas gift and it is without a doubt my favorite.  And, it’s held up through all the washings, dryings and being hung outside on the line to dry.

Now…a little bit about it:

This shirt is from Julian Lennon‘s White Feather Foundation and is “Ethically sourced and made from 100% organic cotton with proceeds going towards the White Feather Foundation causes.”

From the foundations website: The White Feather Foundation embraces environmental and humanitarian issues and in conjunction with partners from around the world helps to raise funds for the betterment of all life, and to honour those who have truly made a difference.

If you have a Beatles fan in your life and want to also give back, my advice would be to buy them one of these shirts.  I absolutely love the way this shirt wears, feels and makes me feel to wear it.  But be sure to order earlier to get it in time for the holidays since they are shipped from the U.K.

You can order the shirt (in black or white) here: http://www.whitefeatherfoundation.com/shop.htm

I rate this shirt: Four Beatles!

4beetle3beetle2beetle1beetle

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November 27, 2012 · 6:06 pm

Two new holiday songs for your listening pleasure!

The first is ‘Honey Badger Christmas’ by Cliff Hillis.  Cliff is a huge Beatles fan and is known to cover a song or two in his shows.

The second song is VERY Beatlesque!  It’s ‘Imagine Christmas’ by Alan Bernhoft, the man behind all the Beatlesque CDs.

Enjoy!  And have a safe and happy holiday season!

Jenn

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October 7, 2012 · 8:39 am

Beatles Expert and Author to Host Weekly Radio Show about John Lennon

‘The John Lennon Hour‘ premiers tonight, Sunday, October 7th at 5 pm (est), 8 pm (pst) on Beatles-A-Rama!!! radio.  It’s a weekly show tracing the life of John Lennon from birth until his untimely death.  The show is being hosted by Beatles author Jude Southerland Kessler.  Ms. Kessler is the author of the John Lennon Series.

Here’s is a link to the press release about this radio show.  If you get a chance to listen, feel free to offer your own reviews in the comments section of this post:

Beatles Expert and Author to Host Weekly Radio Show about John Lennon | PRLog.

I look forward to your opinions.

 

 

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July 23, 2012 · 11:21 am

Two short stories for Kindle about The Beatles

I’m not going to offer any reviews for these two books that recently were released on Kindle.  Instead, I’ll just give you a quick note on what they are.

Please Please Me by Alan Hendler is a 39 page novella on the making of The Beatles ‘Please Please Me’ album.   Great detail is written about the recording of the album but,  the best way to describe this work of fiction is, “The names are the same, but the story has been changed to protect the innocent.”

It costs 99 cents on Amazon.com

She Loves You (excerpt) is a 44 page excerpt from Jude Kessler’s upcoming book by the same name.  The 3 chapters contained in this section of the expanded biography contained a detailed, blow by blow account of the writing and recording of the Beatles’ song, “She Loves You” in 1963.

This book is 99 cents at Amazon.com.

If anyone would like to post their reviews of these two books, feel free to do so in the comment section of this post.

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